Ruth Andrea C   

New tutor

Friendly and experienced Spanish teacher for international learners.

What is your favorite word in your language and why?

My favorite word in Spanish is *madrugada*. It refers to that moment when the night slowly becomes day. I think it is a beautiful word, but also a very special moment: the air feels different, the sunrise is beautiful, and there is a unique energy that comes with a new beginning. I also love the word *querencia*, which refers to a place — or even a person — where one feels they truly belong. In that same sense, I deeply love the word and the idea of *home*.

What is your favorite dish from your hometown? If you no longer live there is there a good local restaurant that serves it?

One of my favorite traditional foods from my hometown, Bogotá, is what we call *onces santafereñas*. More than a specific dish, it is a late-afternoon meal meant to be shared with family, friends, or loved ones. Traditionally, it included hot chocolate, bread, and cheese, but nowadays it often also includes coffee or café con leche. What I love most about *onces* is not only the food itself, but the feeling of warmth, conversation, and togetherness that comes with it.

Besides the languages you teach, do you speak or study any other languages?

Besides Spanish, I speak English and a little French. I am interested in maintaining a good level in these languages because I am passionate about being able to communicate with the world. Beyond their importance to me, spending time cultivating languages is also something I genuinely enjoy. I also enjoy learning Greek and Latin, and I would like to start learning Russian in order to better understand Slavic languages.

What are your interests outside of teaching at Strommen?

Besides teaching at Strommen, my interests are deeply connected to linguistics, language, culture, and education — areas that I try to engage with in different aspects of my life. I am especially interested in understanding educational inequalities in my country in relation to language and education, particularly from a sociocultural perspective. At the same time, I value experiences that connect me with nature, with other people, and with everyday life in a more tangible way. Although I admire technology as a fascinating tool for expanding horizons — and I truly love knowledge and learning as ways of understanding and inhabiting the world — I also enjoy activities that reconnect me with what is real and embodied: nature, manual work, movement, and human connection.

What do you consider your hometown? Why do you love it?

My hometown is Bogotá. I love Bogotá because it is my home: I was born here, I have always lived here, and I hope to continue doing so. I am interested in going out into the world and getting to know other places, but I do it with a sense of peace because I know I have something that deeply roots me here. Bogotá is a complex city, full of contrasts, but I believe it has an enormous amount to offer in every sense. It is cosmopolitan, yet it also has its own rich and fascinating character.